Sorry for the wait friends! My New Years' resolution was to actually write one of my book ideas and try to get it published so I've been using the unnecessarily copious amount of quarantine time to focus on that (it's coming along pretty nicely, if I do say so myself). Still, I love this story too much so I've been 'bits and pieces' building up this chapter between mental plot breaks. Plus side, I already have all the Italy stuff written so once we actually GET to Italy it'll have some content already there to provide. Hope you guys like this one!
(Guys. This is... embarrassing. What the actual flip flop is the proper spelling of Futa/Fuuta's name. Some manga say Futa. Some say Fuuta. I always thought it was Fuuta but when I look it up the stuff all says Futa. Which one is it. WHICH ONE?!)
Uno is a game of war
Enzo is Godzilla
Brewery tours are cool
Kids need to be protected
Nana is... scary
-00-
Ranking Prince Futa
-00-
"Alright, here's the deal," Nana shuffled the cards, showing off the cool tricks their dorm neighbor Juliet had taught them back in school. "Usual rules, common deck. No custom cards this round."
"Aww," Tsuyoshi whined, setting his carefully colored cards to the side. "You would have loved these ones."
Hm. That sounded promising.
"Next round," Nana assured. "The winner of this round picks what we do today. I signed the little ones up for a painting camp thingy so we'll have a lot more time."
Technically Nana had only signed up Lambo, but the guy running the thing didn't seem to mind having I-Pin as a last-minute tag-along so it was fine. With the kid's gone (they'd left a few hours ago, on a helicopter because why the fuck not) it gave them the majority of the day to do whatever they wanted.
"You will have more time," Kouske corrected.
"We all went shopping the other day while you were busy," Aiko smiled apologetically at Nana, sipping at her tea.
Nana squinted at her.
"There's a cake box in the fridge with your name at it," Tsuyoshi grinned.
"Sweet! Before that though, we should figure out where each of us wants to go before we start."
"I want to go clothes shopping," Lavina voted.
Nana frowned at her. "You usually hate clothes shopping with me."
"Yes," she nodded. "But not with Kouske-kun."
Nana clicked their tongue.
Tsuyoshi leaned forwards, nearly knocking his drink over in his excitement. "Takeshi told me about this thing called an 'escape room' and it sounds like fun! I vote for that!"
Nana was pretty sure there was no escape room in the world that could hold Kouske for more than one minute tops, but Tsuyoshi was so happy about his idea they didn't want to crush his hopes.
"A brewery just opened up for tours just outside Namimori," Aiko said. "I hear its drinks are very popular."
Nana would have agreed with that one, really, but the subtle shift in Kouske's expression said that particular trip would end up in chaos. Nana didn't know why, and they didn't really want to know why.
"I refuse to let you win," Nana told Aiko solemnly.
"What? Why?" Aiko asked, bewildered.
"Doesn't matter," Nana waved the question away. "Because I will win in the end anyway and we will all do a scavenger hunt!"
Nana's unwavering determination to win was not to be deterred, even when all their friends turned to them in suspicion.
Lavina pursed her lips. "...I love you, but no."
"Come on Lavina, it will be fun!"
"Not when you have that look on your face."
"Shush, you'll love it," Nana patted her shoulder. "What's your vote Kouske?"
"No comment."
That boded well.
"So we can't let Kouske or Aiko win," Nana told the others.
"Or you," Lavina added.
Tsuyoshi leaned back in his chair, tapping his chin. "Lavina-chan, if it comes down to it, wanna make a truce?"
Lavina nodded, reaching out to shake his hand. "If we need to."
"Cheats!" Nana pointed. "No cheats! This is a normal round!"
"Cheating is normal," Aiko laughed. "It's what makes the game so fun."
"Childish," Kouske corrected.
Tsuyoshi bumped his shoulder, easily ignoring the death glare he got in return. "Uno is a game that tests the mind and body! It's totally an adult game."
"Phrasing," Nana finished shuffling the deck. "Alright losers, let's start."
The cards were dealt. The faces around Nana may as well have been carved from stone. Nana looked at their cards.
"You have already lost."
Nana would have happily told Snake to 'shut the fuck up, you don't know that' but that would have given them away. Instead, they just blinked very normally, at a very normal pace.
Kouske was smirking at them.
Shit.
-00-
"Hayato!" Tsuna shrieked, diving at his friend and tackling him out of the way.
Enzo's foot, as big as five oak trees lashed together, smashed into the ground where they had been a mere second before.
"Thank you," Hayato gasped, scrambling to his feet and dragging Tsuna up with him.
"This way guys!" Takeshi was already at the next tree line, waving at them. "The river curves off the other way!"
Oh thank god. If they had run towards the river one more time Enzo might actually grow big enough to destroy the small town a few miles to the east of them.
"Where is everyone?" Tsuna called back, still stumbling as he tried to regain his balance. He yelped when he was bounced into the air due to the vibrations of Enzo's next step.
Hayato helped him stay balanced and when they ran past him Takeshi took up the spot on Tsuna's other side.
"Dino got caught up in his whip again near the river. Ryohei's trying to get him out," Takeshi smiled, sounding breathless. He had been running around the most. Being their designated lookout for any oncoming bodies of water meant he had to keep running ahead and then running back.
"And- and Kyoko-chan?" Tsuna panted.
The creases around Takeshi's eyes tightened. "I'm not sure."
"I'm right here!"
They all jumped, hopping away from the small girl that appeared at their sides.
Kyoko smiled at them happily, covered in mud and leaves. There were…. There were a lot of vines wrapped around her arms and shoulders.
"Are you okay?" Tsuna asked the most important question.
"What the hell are those for?" Hayato's much louder questioned drowned his out.
"I was talking to Dino-san," Kyoko explained, lifting her arms to better show off the ridiculous amount of vines she had gathered. She was breathing a little heavily but her eyes were glowing in a way that was giving Tsuna anxiety. "He said that he usually ties Enzo up with his whip until he calms down but his whip is too small so I got these instead."
"Tie him up?!" Tsuna really needed to stop shouting, it was taking away the little bit of air he managed to gulp down.
"Hahaha," Takeshi laughed in the most tense 'I'm very carefully ignoring the reality in front of us' kind of way Tsuna had ever heard from him.
"That could work," Hayato's eyes went narrow as he thought. "How strong are those vines?"
"Strong enough," Kyoko promised, as though she had any working knowledge of the varying levels of vine strength after living in Namimori her whole life.
"D-did Reborn-," Tsuna had to pause for a moment, dragging large gulps of air like a fish out of water. "Did Reborn p-put you… up to this?"
"It was my idea," Kyoko giggled happily. "But he did help me gather them. It was very kind of him to offer."
'Kind' his ass, Tsuna bet the demon baby just wanted to make sure they would have to go through with the plan. Too few vines and they would have been able to veto it. As it was…
"There's no way... we can do that," Tsuna shook his head. "Enzo's…. So tall. We wouldn't… be able to reach him…"
"If we take out his legs we can go for the head," Hayato said solemnly.
Tsuna wished his friend understood the pleading, half-dead look he had on his face but Hayato just took it as him needing extra encouragement.
"We can do it Tsuna! With you in charge, there's no way this won't work!"
"I'm not… in charge…"
Honestly, Kyoko was more in charge than he ever was. She had the vines and the plan, she should be the one leading them.
"What shall we do first Tsuna-kun?" Kyoko looked at him curiously.
"Why are you… asking me…?" Tsuna cried. What part of him, running like a weakened baby gazelle with the sweat glands of the ocean, looked like a leader right now?
"We're here to help you prepare for the festival right?" Takeshi pointed out. "So we should do it your way."
The festival, full of normal students for a game that required base-level physical ability. Running from a Godzilla turtle in the middle of some random forest after being para-dropped from heights that were definitely not safe to do so was not how Tsuna would ever even think to train for something as simple as a school event.
"How would we… even knock… him down," Tsuna wondered if it was possible for someone's lungs to explode from lack of oxygen. They were burning in his chest in a way that made it feel like they could explode.
"I can take out one of the legs," Hayato pulled out several sticks of dynamite. "Don't think I have enough for both though."
"Takeshi-kun and I could take out the other one!" Kyoko beamed.
"Ahahaha," Takeshi laughed. Tsuna was pretty sure he was setting his body on autopilot, letting his physical abilities do the work while he mentally escaped whatever traumatic event was about to happen.
Tsuna envied him.
"Once he's down you can go for the throat," Kyoko encouraged him with a sunny smile.
"How?!"
"You should know the answer to that by now Tsuna," Reborn said.
Screaming and throwing his entire body to the side had never worked, but Tsuna had been raised to always have hope in things regardless of how utterly hopeless the situation was. He still got shot, lost his clothes, and ran through the forest like a maniac while his friends roared, laughed, and cheered but he tried.
One day he might take comfort in that.
Maybe.
-00-
"You can't tie in Uno!" Nana complained for the fifth time.
"We're already on the bus," Lavina said for the third.
"But you can't-"
Kouske unfolded his arms, leaning forward.
Nana's jaw clicked shut, but he continued to glare.
Tsuyoshi was giving his wife the puppy eyes.
Aiko giggled behind her hand. "What?"
"You teamed up with Kouske," Tsuyoshi whined.
"You can't prove that," she said innocently. "And you teamed up with Lavina-chan!"
"But Kouske is the one that wins!"
Nana grimaced when Kouske looked at his nails like the snottiest of rich men.
"Don't praise him," Nana scolded. He flinched back, shielding his eyes when Tsuyoshi turned the puppy eyes on him.
"We're here," Kouske stood up. He was out the door the second the bus pulled to a stop.
Aiko clapped happily, skipping after him.
Tsuyoshi offered Lavina his arm, leaving Nana to carry the wheelchair out. Even if Lavina didn't end up needing it, if any of them drank too much they could use it for wobbly-legged drunkards.
"Wow," Nana blinked once he was out.
"Oh?" Snake sounded interested.
The winery was gorgeous. It looked more like a fancy victorian garden with the way everything was designed and set up. Holy crap, how did a place like this end up on the outskirts of Namimori? Heck, it was edging along the Kokuyou part of the city which was as crime central as a place could get in Namimori (Natsuki had said something disturbing about how allowing a little bit of crime to exist made it easier to control but Nana kept the memory locked down). The owner of the place had to have some issues with delinquents and Yakuza, but it looked perfect.
"This place is quite beautiful," Snake said.
"Yeah," Nana agreed. "The drinks this place makes must be to die for."
"I'll have to visit one day."
Nana's lips pursed. Another fact, tucked away.
"N-Natsuki-sama, you really… really don't need to help me with this," a heavily accented voice stuttered. Nana stood on his toes to see who was talking because that name, in this place, was not a coincidence.
"I am observing. Make our investment worth it and we will continue to support your exports."
"O-of course! Thank you very much!"
Kouske was like a moth to a flame. The minute Natsuki turned away from the short woman she was talking to he kissed her forehead in greeting.
"Kouske," she hummed, pleased. "Just in time."
Nana turned to Aiko, betrayed. "Holy shit, you really did team up with Kouske. How long have you been planning this?!"
Aiko gave a trilling little laugh. "Natsuki-chan bought me a new bow, I thought it only right that I offered my help in return."
"H-hello!" the woman Natsuki had been talking to welcomed everyone with her hands on her hips. "Welcome to my Brewery and Winery! My name can be MccGinty Laurie."
Ohhh, she was Irish! Nana had never really heard Japanese with an Irish accent. It was interesting.
Laurie looked over them all, grinning brightly (and carefully avoiding eye contact with the power couple next to her). Her hair was a light brown, nearly red when it caught the light right, and held up in a curly ponytail. Several strands had already fought their way to freedom, hanging around her face and bouncing when she moved. Her eyes were a light green, made brighter by the freckles all over her face. She was dressed in flannel and overalls, looking like she'd just gotten out of the fields for the afternoon.
She was also tiny as hell.
"This is my first time giving a tour, so please forgive me of any mistakes! At the end there will be a survey, so if you'd be the kind as to let me know what you thought I can work hardest to make it better!"
Nana couldn't really speak for the only other people there (an elderly couple that looked like they'd come right out of a warmhearted fairytale) but he knew that just from the look of this place his friends would have a blast.
"Let's get started!"
The plot of land wasn't as big as Nana had first thought, but it was still pretty big. It was divided into what looked like fourths, each section designated to a specific type of alcohol. The factory in the center was simple and efficient. Laurie was a blast. She was full of energy and clearly loved what she did. Whenever she forgot the word for something she'd make one up, combining it with wide hand gestures to get what she was trying to say across. The only time she ever stuttered or messed up was when she looked over at either of the Hibari couple. She'd look like she had been blinded, going red and tongue-tied in seconds.
Nana had never related so hard.
The end of the tour was a tasting back near the beginning, where there were benches and tables for people to relax.
"How refreshing," Lavina closed her eyes, sinking happily in her chair. There were some alcohols she couldn't have, but there was a fruity wine that was light enough for her to drink. "We should get a bottle before we leave."
"Sure," Nana said, totally not eavesdropping on the owner and the Hibari's chatting to the side. He wasn't sure where the Yamamotos had gone but they always got even more sappy and ridiculous when they had alcohol in their system so Nana wasn't really planning on looking for them.
"Here are the words you messed up," Natsuki handed over a clipboard. "As well as some recommendations of things to add to your speech. Doing the tours yourself is fine, for now, but as your popularity increases you will need to start hiring guides. Switch the third and second portions of the tour as well. The beers are heavier so the break needs to be earlier to balance it out. The wines are lighter so putting them at the end will keep all of your guests at reasonable levels of inebriation."
"O-of course," Laurie lifted the clipboard in front of her face, blocking them from view.
"Not bad," Kouske added on at the end. "Maintain this level of work and you should be able to expand by the end of the year."
Nana took one look at Lavina, who was dozing off in her lightweight joy, and slunk over to the trio.
"Sooo," he said as subtle as ever, "you guys know each other?"
Kouske flicked his ear as punishment for eavesdropping.
Nana kicked him.
"This is Sawada Nana," Natsuki introduced him. "Nana, this is Laurie-san."
"Hello," Laurie stuck her hand out, still holding the clipboard up like a shield.
"Hi!" Nana shook her hand happily. He let his eyes drift over to the Hibaris tellingly. "I get it."
Laurie looked relieved. "How can you-?"
"Years of practice," Nana patted her hand before letting go. "And learning about Kouske's true personality. Beauty can only hide so much."
Kouske leaned over him, smirking. "Beauty?"
"My space!" Nana waved his arm, wishing he had held onto his drink so he could splash the man. "Don't be an ass, you have more self-awareness than that."
"Nana," Natsuki lifted a hand to her lips. "You find my husband beautiful?"
"What-," Nana gapped at her, feeling very much wrong-footed. He always commented on how pretty they were, why the fuck were they calling him out now?! "What the fuck is going on? What are you doing?"
Natsuki patted his head like he was a small child. "Nothing you need to worry about yet. Did you enjoy the tour?"
"Uh," Nana crossed his arms. Was this something he wanted to know? Was this something he was willing to risk what little remained of his sanity to learn? No. Not really. "It was great. This place is beautiful and the drinks were delicious. You clearly care about this place a lot, and you're really skilled."
Laurie rose up like a helium balloon. "Thank you! I love it with all of heart! Natsuki-sama and Kouske-sama, they helped the start up."
"Yeah?" Nana looked at them. "I didn't know you guys were such avid supporters of stuff like this."
Natsuki hooked her arm with Kouske's. "We met Laurie in Ireland a few years ago. She had a talent, it would have been a waste to let it die due to lack of opportunity."
"They support me very much," Laurie bowed even with the clipboard glued to her face. "I must do my best to live up to, um... "
"Expectations?" Nana guessed, saying the word first in English then in Japanese.
"Yes!" Laurie pointed at him. "Expec-tations. You speak English?"
Nana switched over easily. It was nice to talk to someone in English again. "Yeah. A little bit of Gaelic too, but not very well. My accent messes up a lot of the words."
"Me too!" Laurie lowered the clipboard, tapping at her chest excitedly. "Oh, I mean Japanese. Not Gaelic. I am fluent in Gaelic."
Nana laughed. Laurie was adorable. "We can help each other out then!"
"Yes!"
"Nana made a friend!"
Nana pinched the bridge of his nose as Tsuyoshi cried out from where the buses were waiting. "You're not my Dad Tsuyoshi, you don't have to cry every time I make a friend."
"I'm so proud," he sniffed.
Aiko took a commemorative photo.
Nana rolled his eyes.
"Sorry Nana's new friend and boss lady, we have to be getting back. Our kids will be home soon."
"Oh," Laurie seemed genuinely disheartened.
Nana looked around at the beautiful, but isolated, farm/brewery. There had been a few workers but they had kept to themselves whenever they passed by. Laurie didn't seem to know them very well yet. "Wanna exchange contact information? It's gotta be a little lonely out here by yourself, and my friends might be crazy but they're really nice. We get together to do something fun every once in a while, if you're ever up for it."
Laurie glanced furtively at the Hibaris.
Nana nodded, feeling like a Monarch granting a boon.
"T-That'd be really nice," Laurie offered her phone. Nana passed her his. "I don't mean to, um, step over any toes. They're just… really pretty."
"You're not stepping on anybody's toes," Nana assured her. Natsuki and Kouske were not the jealous types and they were clearly used to drawing everyone's eye. They wouldn't get made at Laurie for admiring them.
"You're very kind," Laurie shook his hand again, taking her phone back with a happy little hop.
"Thanks?" Nana smiled back.
"Lavinaaa," Aiko shook the silverette's shoulder gently. Lavina snored. "Oh dear."
Nana laughed. "Let's get her home. It was nice meeting you Laurie-chan! Congrats on opening up your own place, it was a lot of fun!"
"Thank you!" Laurie waved at them all, even once the bus started to pull out. Nana, Tsuyoshi, and Aiko stuck their hands out the window and waved back until they couldn't see her anymore.
"You guys know a lot of people," Tsuyoshi sat across from Natsuki and Kouske. "Do you fund a lot of wineries?"
"Just that one," Natsuki tapped away at her phone. "We support talent that is stifled under natural oppression."
"Natural oppression?" Aiko wondered.
"Lack of money or opportunities," Kouske clarified, leaning over Nana so he could see Natsuki's phone when she turned it towards him.
"Why am I in the middle?!" Nana shrunk down between the pair, covering his face. If Lavina had been awake, instead of pressed into Aiko's shoulder and snoring away, she would have laughed.
Tsuyoshi did it for her.
"Because you're so red! You drank too much Nana, you might fall over."
"That's not why I'm red you dumbass," Nana huffed.
Aiko hummed in the back of her throat, understanding.
"Why are you red then?" Natsuki looked downright evil when she leaned into Nana's space.
Nana leaned away, jerking back when he brushed against Kouske's arm that had stretched behind him so he could tuck Natsuki's hair behind her ear.
"Y-you two need to chill," he warned, now perched on the very edge of his chair. "You're gonna give me a heart attack."
Natsuki smiled but went back to paying attention to her phone. Nana turned to Kouske. Kouske stared at him like it was a challenge.
Nana clapped, cursing when he didn't blink.
A few seconds later his eyes started to burn.
Kouske remained impassive.
"Blink!" Nana demanded.
Kouske stared.
"Nana, you've never won a staring contest. Not even against Tsuyoshi," Aiko reminded him.
"I can win!"
"Yeah!" Tsuyoshi cheered.
Tsuyoshi was Nana's favorite now. He always had Nana's back.
"Make him take us for ice-cream if he loses," Tsuyoshi advised.
"Of course," Nana scrunched up the outsides of his eyes to try to relieve the dryness.
The bus pulled to a stop.
Lavina sneezed.
Nana blinked.
"Shit!"
-00-
Tsuna wanted to die.
"Did you fight a bear?" Nana greeted them when they walked through the door of TakeSushi.
Tsuna didn't blame his Dad for the question. He was still in his boxers and all of them were covered in at least three layers of mud, grass, and sticks.
"A turtle," Kyoko corrected, happily holding a small Enzo in her arms. Ryohei was punching the air, jogging in place because he had some internal power source the rest of humanity had been born without.
"Kyo-kun," Tsuna said. He really shouldn't have been surprised when Kyoya showed up right as they were starting their attack on Giant Enzo. It was thanks to him they had been able to knock the creature down so quickly, although they had to run for their lives like hunted animals in the forest the following two hours before Enzo was small enough to get back on the helicopter so they could all go home. Kyoya, who had his own helicopter apparently, had left as soon as he felt they had all received the 'appropriate level of punishment for their actions'.
Dino was being carried between Hayato and Takeshi, his head hung low. "I am so sorry. This was not the training we were supposed to do."
"This was better," Reborn strutted forward, as clean and pristine as always. "Well done Tsuna."
"I don't want your praise," Tsuna groused, sitting down to take off his shoes. He got one off before deciding he really didn't have the energy to do anything more so he just laid down.
Ryohei rushed forward.
"Absolutely not," Aiko barred the way. "You are all filthy. Go back outside, I'll get the hose."
Tsuyoshi laughed from somewhere behind her. "Haven't had to use that in a while! What were you kids doing?"
"Hiking!"
"Training."
"EXTREME BOXING!"
"Playing!"
Takeshi, Hayato, Ryohei, and Kyoko all spoke at once.
"Dying," Tsuna added his two-cents.
"Well, I'm glad you all lived," Tsuyoshi sounded amused. "I'll get you all some towels. It's still pretty warm out!"
Nana had to pull Tsuna out into the yard because he refused to move another inch for the rest of the day. The others joined him, lying shoulder to shoulder. Not even the chilled water of the hose made Tsuna want to move. Kyoko and Hayato must have noticed, since they were lying directly next to him. When they all had to roll so Aiko could spray down their backs too they rolled him with them.
"Takeshi," Aiko sighed. "Don't fall asleep."
"Too late for that," Tsuyoshi appeared above them, head blocking out the sun. Tsuna had to squint even harder against his brightness. "It really is warm out. Why don't you all take a nap here while you dry out?"
Tsuna didn't need to be told twice. He allowed himself to blink three more times, maximum, before succumbing to the void that had been calling him back since he first woke up.
-00-
They looked like tuna fish, all crammed together. Nana had a photo, tucked away in an old scrapbook, of Tsuna, Takeshi, and Kyoko on their fourth day of preschool. They had been trying to dig a hole to the other side of the world in the sandbox. They had gotten pretty far, considering the size of their hands (plus the fact that they had used their hands to dig the hole). If Nana had stepped into it, it would have come up to their knee.
Aiko and Tsuyoshi had picked them up that day while Nana was out with Kyoya. All three of them had worked themselves to exhaustion and were found in the hole, leaning against each other as they snoozed away.
The collection of teens outside of TakeSushi was a lot more chaotic than that sweet moment, but the feeling surrounding it was the same.
"What exactly did you do to them?" Nana asked, taking a picture and texting it to Lavina. Kouske had offered to drop her off at her doctor's appointment that day on his way home and since he was leaving Natsuki of course went with him. Lavina had seemed oddly nervous about this visit, but it was the one where they decided if she could go to Italy or not. Depending on the answer she might want to be left alone. Nana would wait until dinner time at the latest and if she didn't show up he'd track her down.
"Dino," Reborn emphasized, "was careless. Enzo landed in an abandoned water well. When they tried to run they guided him to several rivers as well."
Nana side-eyed the turtle. He had seen the thing grow with his own eyes and it still didn't seem possible. "How big can he even get?"
Reborn shrugged. "He's gotten to be around the size of a skyscraper. He could probably grow bigger than that too."
If Kyoko wasn't hugging the thing so tightly Nana would throw it away from the sleeping, vulnerable children.
"...That's horrifying."
"It's useful."
"Coming from you that means the same thing."
"Nana," Aiko poked her head out of the door. "Tsuyoshi and I are running to the store, would you like to come?"
Nana looked down at the pile of adolescents. "We're just gonna leave them like this?"
"They're like a cake," Aiko mimed putting a pan in an oven, "we need to let them bake."
"Sure," Nana shrugged, "why not. I need to grab some more straws for Lambo and I-Pin anyway. Reborn, can you watch over them?"
Reborn was already asleep in Tsuna's hair.
Nana shook his head. Tsuna's hair was very soft and fluffy, but was it really that good of a pillow?
Tsuyoshi stepped out, locking the door behind him. "Let's go!"
"Kay," Nana yawned, trailing behind the two. Alcohol always made him sleepy. He'd have to take a nap himself at some point.
-00-
Tsuna sat up, staring blearily out at the street. His eyes felt crusted over, every part of him warm.
"Where am I?" he croaked, rubbing at his eyes as he looked around.
His friends were around him, sleeping. Weren't they in the mountains? No, wait, they'd come back from that hadn't they?
Tsuna smacked his lips to get rid of the dry feeling, wracking his brain for what happened.
Oh, right. They'd made it back and Aiko had hosed them all off in front of the Sushi shop. Then he'd fallen asleep.
He was still only in his boxers.
Tsuna flushed, jumping up and away from his friends. How embarrassing.
Takeshi and Kyoko mumbled when he moved but they didn't wake up. Tsuna melted a bit when their empty hands met and held on to each other. It was like when they were kids and would take naps together. Now they had Hayato, sleeping like a mummy next to Takeshi and Ryohei starfished next to his sister.
Tsuna took a picture on his phone. He set it as his screensaver.
"What are you doing?"
Tsuna clapped a hand over his mouth, shriveling up like a startled prune.
Reborn tapped his head with his foot.
Dear God. Had he really gotten so used to the tiny hitman being on his head that he no longer even questioned the added weight? Was Reborn just a part of his hair now?!
"Hey," Reborn kicked his head a little harder. "Answer the question."
"I-I'm just going to get dressed," Tsuna whispered, twisting his fingers together in front of his stomach. "I have a bag nearby."
Reborn stroked Leon. There was a glint in his eyes.
"Alright. Go get it. I"ll watch your minions."
"Friends," Tsuna stressed.
"Same thing."
"No, it's really not."
Reborn kicked his head hard enough to make it bend forward before jumping off. "Get going."
Tsuna grumbled, rubbing at his bruised skull as he walked down the street. It was kind of weird how TakeSushi was always busy and yet somehow everyone seemed to just know whenever they were closed so the streets were pretty much empty.
It made it easier to get to his bag without anyone seeing him in his stupid smiley-face boxers. He needed to get new ones when they went to the mall. First priority.
Tsuna peered into the nearest hiding place, a little crevice in between the stone fences of two of the houses just a little ways away from TakeSushi.
It was empty.
Tsuna smacked his forehead. This had been the one he had gone to right before he met I-Pin and he'd completely forgotten to put the bag back.
Oh well, there was another one not too far away. It was hidden at the base of one of the trees in the nearby park. Most of the kids played at the bigger, nicer playground just five minutes away so it should be pretty empty.
Tsuna groaned, wiping the sweat from his face. It was almost winter, why was it so hot? The weather sucked.
He stopped by the water fountain first when he got to the park. He was probably dehydrated from running around all day with only one water bottle (that got tipped over in the helicopter when Hayato started arguing with Takeshi again). Splashing his face with some water Tsuna took his time uncovering the bag and getting dressed. There was no one at the park so it was fine.
"Tsuna-nii's sprinting ability is ranked 67,345 out of 86,202 people."
Tsuna flapped his arms around, tangled in his hoodie. Who was talking? Where they talking about him?!
"Running ability… 40,323 out of 86,202 people. Overall abilities aren't bad. Yay! Tsuna-nii went up in his rankings again!"
Tsuna finally managed to force his arms into the right holes, pulling the hoodie roughly down over his face.
There was a boy over by the slide.
...He was floating.
The boy pulled out a large book, flopping down on the ground and writing in it excitedly. "He's really working hard. Good job Tsuna-nii."
"Um," Tsuna squinted, trying to see any wires. It was hard to tell through the oddly sparkly red swirling around him.
The boy looked up.
"Tsuna-nii!" he cheered, jumping to his feet. He lifted the large book, running over. "I was planning to meet you tomorrow at your school! Hello!"
"Ah, hi?" Tsuna wilted under the expectant stare. "I'm sorry but… who are you?"
"I"m Futa!" the boy put the book, which was almost as big as his body, inside his coat. Tsuna stared. There was no sign of the book sticking out. "I've been calling you Tsuna-nii. Is that okay?"
"What? Um, I guess, but where did-?"
"This is great!" Futa grasped his hands. "I need your help!"
Reborn and Dad weren't even here, why were weird things happening?!
"I don't-"
"I'm being chased," Futa said solemnly. "By bad guys from the mafia. I need you to keep me safe!"
"What?!"
Futa nodded. "You're the only one I know I can turn to. You're ranked first in being unable to turn down a request after all."
"Why are you insulting me if you want help?!" Tsuna cried.
Futa blinked. He tilted his head. "I'm not insulting you. That's just what the rankings said."
"H-hold on," Tsuna waved his hands in the air. "Go back to the part about the mafia? They're chasing you? Why? How did they even get here? How did you get here?!"
Futa tapped the pocket he had put the book in (that shouldn't have been able to fit, what the heck). "They want me to rank things for them, but I don't want to so I ran away! Please Tsuna-nii, they're gonna kidnap me!"
"Kidnap?!"
"Hey!"
The two boys whipped around. Several men in black suits were standing at the entrance to the playground. Tsuna paled.
"There you are," the tallest man smiled maliciously. They stalked towards them.
Tsuna pulled Futa behind him.
Were these guys really mafia? Tsuna didn't understand anything Futa said about rankings but he was just a kid! They wouldn't really hurt a kid, right?
"Grab the ranking Prince," the man ordered his men, "and this time tie him up right you idiots. Kill the other one."
Tsuna felt his throat close up.
He couldn't fight. He wasn't good at it, he'd never even been in a real one. He was a good runner, and he could probably carry Futa but how were they supposed to get past them? He couldn't leave Futa behind, these people were going to hurt him, but how was he supposed to-
"Run!" Miyu shrieked, punching the man closest to them as hard as she could. His jaw cracked as he stumbled to the side and fell. Turning on her heel she grabbed Tsuna's wrist, scooping Futa into her arms, and barreled through the other man in their way. Several hands reached out to grab them but Miyu's surprise attack let them slip by fast enough to escape. There were outraged cries behind them.
"Sasegawa-san?!"
"Oh no," she squeaked under her breath. "Oh no, oh no, oh no. I think I broke his jaw. Oh no. Oh dear."
"Sasegawa Miyu," Futa said, flopping bonelessly in the air from where he was tucked under her arm. "34th most likely to apologize for punching a serial killer."
"That man was a serial killer?!" Miyu turned an odd mix of pale and flushed.
"No," Futa said.
Miyu either didn't hear him or was too flustered to properly process his answer.
"Help!" she called, running straight for the corner where one of the Disciplinary Members was standing watch. "These children are in danger!"
"Danger?"
"Oh no," Tsuna cried under his breath when both of Takeshi's parents turned the corner next to the Disciplinary Member.
"Miyu-chan?" Aiko blinked at them, shifting both of her shopping bags to her left hand. "Tsuna-kun?"
Her eyes drifted past them. Tsuyoshi frowned.
"What's going on?" Nana peered over their shoulders. "Tsu-kun?"
Tsuna wasn't entirely sure what happened after that. There was a scream behind them, much closer than Tsuna was comfortable with, and Aiko's hand was outstretched. The Disciplinary Member had his phone out, but he didn't seem like he was going to interfere in whatever was happening. Dad was gone. Tsuna didn't see where he went. Tsuyoshi was next to them, hands raised carefully as Miyu came to a frazzled stop in front of him. She flinched away when he reached out to help.
Tsuyoshi kneeled down in front of her, palms out. "Are you okay Miyu-chan? Are you or the kids hurt anywhere?"
Then Miyu was crying, letting Tsuna and Futa go as she hugged Tsuyoshi (who looked both shellshocked and like his birthday had come early).
"W-we're okay," Tsuna stuttered out. "Sasegawa-san helped us get away before anything could happen."
There were… sounds behind them. Painful sounds. Tsuna placed a hand on Futa's head to keep him facing forward.
"I didn't realize plastic straws could be so sharp," Aiko was looking behind them, eyes wide. She reached over Tsuyoshi's shoulder to run her hand comfortingly through Miyu's hair but her eyes stayed trained on whatever was going on with the men that had followed them.
"We'll have to ask Nana about them," Tsuyoshi was beaming, hugging Miyu back in the most gently fierce way Tsuna had ever seen.
"T-they were going to hurt Tsuna-kun," Miyu babbled, shaking from adrenaline and fear. "A-and this boy! I.. I couldn't let them… I hit him! There was- was a sound! D-did they chase us? Are we s-safe?"
"It's okay," Tsuyoshi patted her back while Aiko cooed at her. "You're all safe. Nana's taking care of it. Great job keeping Tsuna and his friend safe. You did amazing!"
"You were very brave," Aiko agreed, looking Tsuna and Futa up and down. Tsuna nodded when she met his eyes, silently asking if they were okay.
"Pieces of shit," Nana spat, coming from behind them. He placed a hand on Tsuna's shoulder, turning him to face them. "Are you okay Tsuna? Are any of you hurt?"
Tsuna kept his eyes up. There was blood on his Dad's knuckles and a bit on his chin, but it didn't look like it belonged to Nana. The groans of pain were louder now. "We're okay Dad. They were trying to take Futa-kun but Sasegawa-san helped us before they tried anything."
Nana looked at him, then Futa who was watching everything with sparkly-eyed interest, before focusing on Miyu who was still shaking in Tsuyoshi's arms. Aiko was kneeled next to them now, talking to her quietly.
Nana's face softened. "I'm glad you're all okay. How about you all head over to TakeSushi until everything gets cleared up? I'll join you as soon as Kyoya gets here."
Tsuna grabbed his Dad's hand. "There might be more people," he frowned. "They seem really dangerous."
Nana smiled at him. "Don't worry Tsu-kun, I'll have Juto-kun with me." Nana waved a hand at the Disciplinary Member who was staring back with an unreadable expression on his face. "And if anyone else shows up I'll make sure to run if it gets too dangerous."
Tsuna felt torn. On the one hand, his Dad had clearly taken out the group of men that had been following them with ease, and his Dad was one of the strongest people he knew. On the other hand, people who wanted to hurt Futa might approach his Dad and on principal that felt like a situation that should be avoided at all costs.
"I'll stay with Nana," Reborn appeared on his Dad's shoulder.
"Were you here the whole time?!" Tsuna demanded.
Reborn smirked. "Don't be stupid. Get going Tsuna."
Tsuna scowled at him, but Futa was tugging at his pants and Miyu was starting to stand up again (apologizing profusely for getting Tsuyoshi's shirt wet). He looked at his Dad. "Stay safe."
"Always," Nana hugged him, ruffling his hair. They looked down at Futa.
Futa grinned up at them. He laughed, pleased, when Nana ruffled his hair too. "Sawada Nana! Number one most likely to adopt a person in need!"
Nana sputtered. "I don't do it that often!"
Reborn snorted.
"I don't!"
Tsuna was still shaking. As they walked away he grabbed Futa's hand, making sure the boy was okay after they were just threatened. He seemed fine. Happy even.
What was with kids, going through this stuff like it was normal?
Tsuna frowned. Futa was a stranger, and he came out of nowhere, but he was still a kid. Still a person. Those guys said they were going to tie him up. Again.
"Tsuna-nii?" Futa tugged at his hand, staring up at him.
He looked like a little puppy.
Tsuna licked his lips, debating. "Futa-kun… where are your parents?"
"Hmm?" Futa looked confused. "I don't have any. Why?"
Dad wouldn't be made this time either, right?
"Do you want to stay with us for a while?"
-00-
Nana watched his son take the boy's hand as they walked away. He was such a good boy.
"Juto-kun?" Nana said happily, smiling at one of Kyoya's Disciplinary Members. Nana didn't often see him around, but was usually stationed here in the late afternoons so they'd run into each other a few times.
"...Yes Sawada-sama," Juto swallowed.
"Would you mind turning around for a little while?" Nana asked sweetly.
Juto turned immediately. He covered his ears.
Smart boy.
Nana cracked his knuckles. He looked down at the beaten men on the pavement.
The man closest to him, the one with a plastic straw, enforced by Lighting Flames and thrown with the accuracy of a sharpshooter, lodged deep enough in his hand that it came out the other side looked up at him in fear.
"What are you doing in Namimori?" Nana wondered, rage coiling softly around their heart.
Reborn hummed from his shoulder. "I can tell you. For a price."
"No," Nana kneeled in front of the apparent leader. He had almost grabbed Miyu by the hair. Miyu had been doing so good lately. If a large, scary-looking man grabbed her like that who knows how far she would be set back. "I want to hear it from their own mouths. You might want to answer before Namimori's defender gets here. He won't be as nice as me."
The man swallowed. He kept his mouth shut.
"I see." Nana smiled. His hands lit up green. "Kouske said to practice using these on other people but I was afraid to hurt him. He'll be so happy when he learns I followed his advice."
Reborn watched with interest.
Coming to Namimori had been one of his best decisions yet.
-00-
"-so they were trying to get him to 'rank' stuff for them," Nana explained. "Whatever the fuck that means."
Kyoya was nearly snarling. Natsuki and Kouske looked interested.
"I've heard of Futa-kun," Natsuki admitted. "I didn't realize quite how accurate his rankings are. If it's true his abilities would be as prized as these men claimed."
"I wasn't lying!" the leader sobbed. "I told you I wasn't lying!"
Nana rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Huh. If Natsuki says so, I guess you weren't. Sorry for the last bit then."
Kyoya kicked at the men tied up in a circle. Nana wondered if he should stop his student, they were already beaten up pretty well as it was, but he decided against it.
"Anyway, that's all that happened. He says this is everyone, and if he's telling the truth about Futa-kun then I guess he hasn't technically lied to me about anything yet."
"Take them away," Kyoya ordered. Tetsu and a few other members lifted the mafia men up and started carrying them away to... somewhere. Nana wasn't really interested in learning where. Kyoya looked at Nana and nodded before following after.
"Aw," Nana held a hand over his heart. It was nice to get some genuine acknowledgment from him sometimes.
"You'll be needing another renovation soon I take it," Natsuki sounded like she was laughing.
Nana looked over at them. "What? For what?" He frowned. "My house? No! You did way too much in the first place! I don't need even more space!"
Natsuki chuckled. "Nana, it's barely been a month and you've already adopted three children. I highly doubt the rooms we gave are going to be enough in a years time."
Nana struggled for words. "I- what- I haven't adopted three!"
"Lambo-kun," Natsuki ticked off on her fingers. "I-Pin-chan, though that is very recent yes. And Futa-kun."
"I haven't adopted Futa-kun!"
"He doesn't have parents," Reborn casually inserted himself into the conversation, lounging along the stone fence of the house next to them. "And no where to go."
Nana opened his mouth.
He closed it.
"Exactly," Natsuki patted his cheek, eyes flickering to his chin with an amused little smile. "Don't worry Nana, we know your tastes. You'll love it."
"I mean, yeah," Nana rubbed at his temples, "but it's still too much. At this point I don't think I can ever match up to everything you guys are doing for me."
There was a long silence.
Nana squinted up at Kouske.
The man had not said a single word since they had arrived. He'd just stood there... staring.
"You're creeping me out," Nana told him bluntly. "What's wrong with you?"
Kouske blinked once, slowly. Something was off about it. Usually that meant he was especially resigned with whatever stupidity was going on around him. This... this didn't feel like one of those times.
Natsuki smiled, small and sharp. "It's starting to get late. You should head back Nana, before Tsuna-kun starts to worry."
Nana shifted on the balls of his feet, staring at Kouske. What was wrong with him? "...Right. I'll see you guys later?"
"Of course."
Nana waited for them to start walking first but they stayed where they were. Natsuki still had her arms wrapped around Kouske's left arm, but she made no move to pull her husband along like the usual times when he stood there staring into space like a dumbass.
Nana cough, nervously clearing his throat. "Right. Um, goodnight then."
Kouske grabbed his arm when he passed and Nana nearly let out a scream that would have won him an Oscar in a horror movie.
"Jesus Christ Kouske, what is your probl-"
Kouske reached out and brushed his thumb over Nana's chin.
Nana's brain short-circuited. He stood there with his mouth open, unblinking.
Kouske pulled his hand back, looking down at the traces of blood that had been on Nana's chin.
"Hm."
He stared at Nana, blinking slowly again. He wrapped an arm around Natsuki's shoulder and started to walk away. Natsuki threw a mischievous at Nana over her shoulder before leaning into Kouske's side.
Nana stared at them until they had long since turned the corner.
He knelt down and covered his face with his hands. His skin felt like it was burning.
"Aerrrrrrrgahhhh," Nana shrieked quietly into their hands.
What. The fuck. Was happening.
"Ah," Snake said, sounding like a man that had come across a world-changing revelation. "I see."
"What," Nana hissed, still hiding from the world. "What, exactly, do you see?"
"I'm afraid this is something you're going to have to figure out on your own," Snake said. The absolute bastard.
"You're not helping," Nana tapped at his eyebrows, breathing overexaggerated as he tried to calm his racing heart.
"You really should be getting back Nana. Tsunayoshi will search for you if you don't at least text him that you are okay."
"Stop using my son against me!"
"Then stop letting it work."
"Agh!"
-00-
Laurie MccGinty is an OC graciously offered by bloodshound, I hope you all liked her cause I sure as heck do. She's heckin adorable.
I have good news and more good news (with only a bit of bad news for some people). Clearly, HibairCoupleXNana has had a pretty resounding victory. Almost resounding. I had a whole heap ton of votes for Snake too, that poor lonely snake man. The results were crazy close. So I'mma do both. It works out anyway cause the relationship I would have done for NanaXSnake works perfectly no matter what, and adding the Hibari couple only makes it cuter. Snake just wants them cuddles man. To be more clear, he's Asexual. Always has been, that's always been the plan. Only a handful of people voted for other pairings and since so many people (it's really, deeply amazing that so many people hold an interest in the lives of these characters. It makes me tear up) wanted both of those... both of those it shall be. Boom. Done. Congrats! For any future pairings those will be decided later. For the kiddos mostly, cause they need some serious growth and bonding. They have too much to focus on right now. For any of the adult chara's if you ship any of them let me know! I haven't thought of any besides what's already there but I find pretty much any pairing cute and just having the thought offered would give me adorbs ideas. Hope you guys liked the start to the romance build in this chapter!
ACasualHuman: Vote locked in friend! Thanks for the apartment congrats, we've settled in nicely. It's a very much needed change. I can't believe how emotionally great I've been feeling just because of the move. Stay safe and healthy my dear!
bloodshound: You... are a very wonderful bean full of very wonderful bean things. Thanks for even more OC's! You've seriously given me an army to choose from, it's awesome. I hope you like the first appearance of Laurie! She's so fricken cute! Nana is Team Kids . And speaking of torching and frying their enemies... XD The little shit kids always end up being the cutest ones. It's a weird natural law I have discovered. Thanks as always for pointing out the moments that caught your eye the most, it really helps me figure out what makes an impact so I can but the same kind of focus on important bits in the future. YOU ROCK! The Hibaris are stepping up their game! Behold... the moment. Stay safe during this turbulent time dear friend, all healthy thoughts towards you and your loved ones!
Greatazuredragon: Thanks as always for your uplifting words! And who wouldn't like such a cool name and pic? They are the bomb!
Kirie Mitsuru: Your vote has been counted! Chill and fluff is the greatest build-up to tension and adrenaline ;D Nana and Lambo are definitely going to have 'myson!' conversation. It's gonna be heckin cute. Fon is going to have a very interesting time in Namimori XD Nana *meeting Xanxus*: fuck this guy. *learns about his past* Oh. Oh no. *pulling out adoption forms* I must... I must adopt! XD Never apologize for a long review! Feedback means more reflection growth (and them good, happy feels) for me! It's never a bad thing in my eyes! You're always such a joy to hear from! Stay safe and healthy my friend!
katsekala: Aw, I'm glad I can return some of the wonderful feelings your reviews leave with me! Ah jeez, that Xanxus and Nana paternal bond would be ADORABLE! So sweet and oftentimes hilarious. My favorite things. Fon is also one of my favs, tis true. That baby body thing has just gotta get in the way all the time T-T Any ships with an Arcebeleno would take fricken forever to get to. You are the sweetest! I greatly appreciate you my dear! Many kisses in return!
Anya: I'm back! I work a lot so it sometimes takes me awhile to actually find the time to write (and the panic over whether it's good enough and rewrite things like, five times). Sorry for worrying you dearie! The Hibaris and sparring is definitely a... highlight for them in their relationship XD *return eyebrow wriggle* XD And it is true! Kouske/Natsuki/Nana is gonna be official canon (in this story) so... happy early/belated birthday! Snake's also gonna be there, just in a slightly different way. So double surprise! For MHA fics I keep hopping around to different character-focused ones like Todoroki, Shinso, and Aizawa (my absolute fave!). I do not have the brain capacity right now to read any full-length stuffs (though I have a bunch bookmarked for when life is at a better time) so I've mostly been reading fluffly family/friend one-shots. Super cute. Love em. Oh jeez, why did you have to say One Piece?! Now it's back in my mind! I'm gonna fall into the cycle again! Ahhhh! XD We can just be two cool, badass peeps, fighting the world for that good story jazz! Stay safe and healthy my dear friend! As always I love to hear from you!
hoshikasa: Your vote is locked in! Stay safe and healthy out there!
Yuki Nagasawa: We shall be nice together, and the world shall be nicer for it! It sucks that you get sick all the time now, especially at a time like this. Be safe dearie, I'm sending only the happiest of thoughts your way! I love reading all about your OC's btw. They're such a great group of characters! I have some stuff written up for them already, and they're flipping adorable! Thank you for adding your color to this story!
James: Nothing was out of the cards, honestly. I usually have no plans for relationships going into a story so that as it progresses whatever romance pops up is a result of natural character interaction. Then I typically get reader input cause I love you guys and romantic relationships rarely, if ever, get in the way of the plot I already have planned. That would be hella cute though! Stay healthy and safe friend!
Mike: Those are sandals everyone in the world needs to own XD Vote counted, thank you! Stay safe and healthy out there!
Anne: Thank YOU! That was super sweet of you! Thank you so much :D KawahiraXNana will absolutely at least have a one-shot. It's too interesting of a pairing not to explore ;D Stay safe and healthy out there!
ADDBaby: The pure... energy... it's so... motivational! Thank you! We have a lot of parking space here, it's super nice! Right next to the train tracks, so that sucks sometimes, but other than that it's perfect! Your well-wishes helped make my lucky home dreams come true! I want you to look into this *holds up mirror* so all your kind words and thoughts are reflected back to you! My goodness gracious, you are seriously so full of positivity and love it shocks me into an amazeball of good feels. You have no idea how wonderful it feels to see all the things that stood out to you and learn how they made you feel and laugh. It's just... soul touching. Thank you. Forever and always. I hope your positivity and kindness towards me is reflected towards you by everyone you know, cause you deserve some serious heartfelt love my friend. You are. the BOMB. P.S. then I shall continue to give the gifts! P.S.S. I... need that blanket. XD Stay healthy and safe dearheart, only good things your way!
Guest: sorry for the heartbreak XD Hope it glues back together the more your read. And hey, thanks for reading! Stay safe and healthy friend!
animeanimal12: Oh look. It's me. In a puddle of goo on the floor. Cause you melted me with your crazy kind words. Seriously, that was super sweet of you, thank you so much. I hope your health and safety is top-notch in this difficult time, only good and happy things heading your way!
Guest: You are, indeed, reading into that correctly XD Stay safe and healthy friendo!
Megi Keishii: Oh yeah, he totes found them XD Glad you liked it! Stay safe and healthy my dear!
yaoishipsforlife: He absolutely is, you've already got him figure out XD Fon's gonna be a delight! Stay safe and healthy out there!
Junyahui: Welcome aboard! Healthy, happy thoughts your way!
UnknownRegion: They are, in fact, absolutely adorable together. You are correct. Hope you like how it starts to turn out! Stay safe and healthy friend!
foxychick1: Thank you! I'm glad it's caught your eye :D Stay safe and healthy out there!
JadeDragon100: I don't... I can't... look at you. You are too bright. To nice! Literally turning into a melted puddle here. That was crazy kind and sweet of you, and it made my entire day. Thank you so much, that day had been a rough one and you did the impossible by making it better. All the happy and healthy thoughts are headed your way my friend, I hope the world is as kind to you as you are to it.
ChaosHearth: Welcome back! Glad it was able to draw you in again :D Stay safe and healthy out there dear Chaos!
Akuma no Hono: Your vote has been tallied! It is gonna be crazy adorable. And yes! The Iemitsu story arc is so far from being done. He's a huge part of Nana's life, and he's got his own growing to do. I hope you like how it goes! Takeshi and Kyoya definitely makes sense, and I agree a lot with the Kyoko and Haru parts! Kyoko is the best sis, and when I look at Haru all I see is, like, half the girls in the elementary school I work at. I love them, but man can they drive me insane. Thanks for the feedback dearie! Stay safe and healthy!
KawaiiSadist: Boom. Both. Merry Chrishannueastbirthday. XD Stay healthy and safe other there friend!